Deadline nears for school board candidates filings

Those interested in overseeing their community’s school district have about one week left to file for November’s election.

Candidates must submit paperwork by noon Thursday, June 18, at Wayne County’s voter registration office in the courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond.

Candidates must also gather signatures from at least 10 voters in their board district on a petition before that deadline.

Only a portion of each school board’s seats are up for election at one time. Open seats are:

• Centerville-Abington: One at-large seat and District B (Center 3, 4, 5, 6)
• Nettle Creek: Two at-large and District B (Dalton, Perry Townships)
• Northeastern: One at-large and Districts A (Greene)
• Richmond Community Schools: Two at-large plus District 3 (much of the city’s west side). A map is available at wwn.to/rcsdistricts.
• Western Wayne: One at-large and District C (Washington)

Wayne County election officials say a total of three candidates have filed as of Friday, June 5.

School boards make key decisions regarding their district’s future, such as hiring superintendents and approving budgets and policies. Many school districts are bracing for potential budget cuts prompted by state property tax reforms.

Changes approved by the Indiana General Assembly affect this year’s school board elections. Previously nonpartisan, candidates may now list a party affiliation (Democratic, Libertarian, Republican or other), run as an Independent, decline to disclose an affiliation, or state they are neither affiliated with a party nor independent.

Candidates claiming Democratic or Republican affiliation must have selected that party’s ballot in the last two primaries in which they voted, or obtain certification from the county party chair. Republican Chair Beth Leisure is at 765-914-0633 or waynecountyrepublicansinfo@gmail.com. Democratic Chair Maggie Thomas is at 765-676-3367 or info@waynecountydemocrats.com.

Candidates must file CAN-34 and CAN-12 forms and collect signatures from 10 registered voters in their district. Forms are available at in.gov/sos/elections/candidate-information. Those raising or spending more than $500 must form a candidate committee. More information is available at isba-ind.org/more/candidate-101, or Wayne County voter registration at 765-973-9226 or voters@waynecounty.in.gov.

Other races

There’s still time to join the ballot for other elected offices for the November election as an independent or Libertarian, or to fill a vacancy on a Democratic or Republican ballot.

Political parties can appoint candidates for ballot vacancies until July 3. Democratic and Republican parties must file a certificate of selection by noon Monday, July 6, that notes a ballot vacancy has been filled.